Fence-post.



J. R. FREEZE.

FENCE POST. APPL'ICATION FILED MAY 15, I916.

Patented July 11, 1916.

dob/zaf/mn #1 fi'eeze Inventor U]- S zvz/ Attorney W l l JOHNATHAN R. FREEZE. 01F MIDDLETOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN ROLLING MILL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July M, lltllfi.

Application filed May 15, 1916. Serial No. 97,539.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, JOXINATIIAN R. FREEZE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown. Butler county. ()hio. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of a tubular metallic fence-post formedt from one piece of sheet metal by curving a sheet-metal blank to desired cross-section. the. seam being at the front of the post and reinforced by flanges turned angularly and rearwardlv and outwardly within the hollow of the post. The front of the post, at each side of the seam. is provided with perforations into which may be driven wire staples to secure the strand-wires of a wire fence.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved post: Fig. 2 a front elevation of a portion of the same with a strand-wire and retaining staple in place: Fig. 3 a horizontal section in the plane of line (l of Figs. 1 and 2: Fig. 4 a plan of one of the staples.

A. diversity of scales is employed in the drawing.

In the drawing:1. indicates the general post, which is formed of sheet metal bent to produce the desired tubular cross-section, I

the exemplification showing a circular crosssection: 2, the longitudinal seam at the front of the post: 3. longitudinal flanges formed within the post upon the portions of the post forming the seam, these flanges being given angular form by being bent rearwardly and outwardly from the seam: 4, the back of the post: ,5. perforations in the front of the post at each side of the seam, these perforations being arranged in pairs with the perforation at one side of the seam preferably below the perforation at the other side of the scam: 6 a strand-wire of a wire fence disposed against the front of the post between the levels of the upper and lower perforations of a pair of perforations: and 7, a wire staple driven into the pair of perforations and straddling the strand wire.

The flanges 3 serve in stifi'ening the post in the direction of the line of the fence and in the directiontransverse to that line, at the weakest point, namely the seam and, being entirely-within the post, do not detract from the pleasing appearance of the post. Pairs of perforations for staples will be needed only at points where the strand wires of a fence are to be secured to the post, but as wire fences vary as to the number and position of their strand wires, it is preferable that the front of the post he provided with pairs of perforations at such frequent intervals as to permit of the perforations being utilized with most any character of wire fencing regardless of the number and relative disposition of the fence-parts which are to be secured to the post. The staple may well be the ordinary staple of commerce usually employed in stapling wire fences to wooden posts. When the staple is driven into the pair of perforations selected for it. the prongs of the staples engage exterior to the flanges 3 and the staple. becomes thereby deformed to such extent as to securely hold it in place when any fence. usage might tend to displace it. If it be desired, for any purpose, to remove the staples from the post. it may be done by means of a suitable tool to be employed in drawing the staples out of the post by straightening their prongs to suflicient extent to permit the removal of the staples. Staples thus withdrawn may be straightened and re-used. The driving of the staples not only brings about their deformation to secure them to the post but serves also in act-' ing sidewise uponthe flanges 3 and thus tends to close and secure the seam. This particularpoint may well be appreciated if it be assumed that the staples are driven into the post and deformed at points where staples are not needed forsecuring strand wires to the post. it being manifest that such staples would tend to close the seam and add to the strength of the post at its otherwise weakest point. it is to be particularly noted that the cross-section of the post is such that no raw edges of metal are exteriorly presented and that there are no exterior claws to be damaged in packing or shipping. and that. there being no exterior projections the posts may be packed closely together in shipping.

I claim A metallic fence-post consisting of a tube formed by bending a single piece of sheetmetal to produce a longitudinal joint at the angular bending of the edges of the metal,

flront of the post, the edges of the II'lQtFl at substantially as set forth.

tie joint projecting into t e interior 0 the tube and being angularly bent sidewise of .JOHNATHAN FREEZE 5"the joint, perforations being provided in Witnesses:

the front of the tube at each side of the GEO. JOHNSON,

joint in front of the flanges formed by the M. S. BELDEN. 

